Introduction
Having understood the elements that bear witness to the still, small voice of God, it is essential to grasp how a Christian hears the voice of God. The wind, earthquake, and fire are key elements that testify to God’s presence. These expressions symbolize the Holy Spirit, travail, and warfare that often precede the ability to truly hear God’s voice. However, these are merely precursors to experiencing the voice of God.
Notably, the still, small voice of God emerges in the quiet aftermath of these expressions. Like the prophet Elijah, we must recognize and acknowledge these manifestations of God’s voice before He speaks directly to us. Elijah waited patiently for the wind, earthquake, and fire to pass before hearing the voice of God. In the stillness, a gentle whisper followed. This whisper represents the thoughts and instructions that constitute the voice of God.
Learn to hear God’s voice and discern His will to avoid wrong decisions in your career, business, investments, and ministry. Waiting in the secret place for divine instruction can transform your life’s path and fulfill God’s purposes
The Thought and Voice in 1 Kings 19:12
In the Bible, the word of the Lord came to Elijah before he heard the still, small voice of God in 1 Kings 19. Verse 9 states: “Behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said unto him, ‘What doest thou here, Elijah?’” This verse reveals that the word of the Lord came to Elijah as a thought, asking him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” It was not an audible voice but a thought constructed to convey God’s message to the prophet in that moment.
Then in verse 12: “And after the earthquake, fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice.” Verse 13 continues: “Behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, ‘What doest thou here, Elijah?’” In this instance, Elijah hears the actual, still small voice, which asks the same question he had previously perceived as a thought in verse 9.
These three verses illustrate the distinction between receiving the word of God as a thought and hearing the word of God as an audible voice. Therefore, God can communicate both through a thought process and through the still, small voice.
Thought Process
God speaks to us through thought processes. We may not hear an audible voice but instead begin to process unique and distinct thoughts—thoughts that we recognize as not originating from our own consciousness. These thoughts can manifest during a dream state, as was the case with many prophets in the Old Testament, such as Samuel, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. A common phrase among these prophets is, “The word of the LORD came to me,” signifying that God’s message often came during meditation or sleep. For example, many of Ezekiel’s prophecies were revealed while he was lifted by the Spirit during meditation (Ezekiel 11:1,14). Similarly, Daniel received messages in visions during the night while in a dream state (Daniel 7:2). These prophetic experiences were written for our learning today, showing that God often begins speaking to our minds during times of deep prayer, meditation, or dreaming.
Therefore, it is essential for believers today to study the Word of God and meditate on it day and night. This practice is the primary way to align our thoughts with God’s thoughts. Through His Word, God will begin to reveal His thoughts, often strikingly, by giving you revelations that pertain to your destiny. You need to know that God will never communicate a thought that is inconsistent with His word. The word of God must always bear witness with every thought that God shares with us.
The word of the Lord that comes as thoughts is also confirmed by signs in the physical realm or through scripture. For instance, in Jeremiah 32:6, Jeremiah recounts, “The word of the LORD came to me,” instructing him to buy a field from his cousin Hanamel. When Hanamel approached Jeremiah and implored him to purchase the field, Jeremiah confirmed in verse 8, “I knew this was the word of the LORD; so I bought the field.” This passage demonstrates that Jeremiah initially questioned whether the thought was his own or from God until the instruction was validated by Hanamel’s arrival. Similarly, in our daily lives, waiting for a sign is one of the most reliable ways to confirm that a thought is indeed the word of the Lord and not merely our own. God’s word in our thoughts must always be affirmed by a corresponding sign.
The Role of the Spirit – Inner Witness
In this New Testament dispensation, God, through the person of the Holy Spirit, chooses to share His thoughts with believers in Christ. The Holy Spirit is our inner witness who testifies that the thoughts we receive are actually sent from God. The Spirit searches the thoughts of God and reveals His mind to us. Isaiah 40:13 asks, “Who knows the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?” Paul answers this in 1 Corinthians 2:11, explaining that the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God. The Spirit searches the deep things of God and reveals them to us at the point of revelation. Romans 8:27 further states that the Spirit searches the hearts and minds of men and makes intercession for us according to the will of God. These scriptures reveal the Holy Spirit’s role in synchronizing our thoughts with God’s, enabling us to accurately discern His Word. The secret is in yielding to the person of the Holy Spirit and allowing him to align our thoughts with the thoughts of God.
In promising us the Holy Spirit, Jesus said in John 14:26 that the Advocate will “teaches you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit, in this light, teaches us about the Word of God and the instructions of Christ. Most importantly, the Spirit is prophetic in nature, teaching us things to come as He hears them from Christ. John 16:13-15 reveals that the Spirit guides us into all truth, speaks what He hears, and tells us what is yet to come. The Holy Spirit receives from Christ and makes known His revelations to us. These scriptures emphasize the Spirit’s intercessory role, aligning our minds with Christ’s and revealing both present and future truths.
Therefore, we cannot share in God’s thoughts without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We cannot have the mind of Christ without the person of the Holy Spirit. To share in God’s thoughts, we must yield to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to teach, intercede, and align our thoughts with God’s will.
Still Small Voice
As the phrase suggests, the still, small voice is always heard in stillness. This voice of God becomes evident when we receive light from the Word. Stillness encompasses a state of complete obedience, alignment, and consecration. These three factors focus on detaching from our physical environments and choosing to concentrate on God. Throughout scripture, God reminds His servants to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). God speaks often, but many of us are too preoccupied with worldly matters to wait upon the Lord in the place of prayer. Stillness implies waiting attentively to hear God’s voice.
God requires us to dwell in the secret place, free from worldly distractions, in order to clearly hear His voice: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). The secret place is not a physical location like a room, church, or mountain. Instead, it is a spiritual state where you quiet and discipline your spirit to connect intimately with God. This sacred space is entered when you successfully eliminate all distractions from the physical world and focus on worship, prayer, and reading the Word of God. By doing so, you experience a deep and personal communion with God.
Obedience in Hearing the Still Small Voice of God
Obedience is vital in our interaction with God and in waiting for the Holy Spirit to reveal the oracles of God. God does not speak to a disobedient or undisciplined spirit. We must quiet and humble our spirits before Him because “a gentle and quiet spirit” is pleasing in His sight (1 Peter 3:4). For instance, when we are in prayer but unable to concentrate, it indicates that our spirit is not at rest or quiet. Our minds may wander to various concerns, such as errands, work, family, or friends, instead of focusing on prayer. God desires obedience, which comes through quieting our spirits and minds. “You must be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23).
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah encountered an earthquake, a mighty wind, and fire—all powerful forces that could have easily distracted him. Yet, Elijah waited for these forces to pass, and only then did he hear the still small voice of God. This moment teaches us a profound lesson: to hear God’s voice, we must quiet ourselves and eliminate distractions.
Similarly, in prayer—whether waging spiritual warfare, speaking in tongues, reading the Word, or worshiping—there comes a time to pause. Amid these acts of devotion, we must be intentional about listening for that still small voice. To do so, we need to quiet not only our bodies but also our minds and spirits, allowing us to discern and connect with God’s gentle whisper.
Let this serve as a reminder that hearing from God requires a deliberate shift from action to stillness, from speaking to listening. In the silence, His voice becomes clear.
Entering God’s Presence: A Call to Consecration
When you come before the presence of God, rid yourself of all the weights of this world—worries, troubles, anxieties, food, relationship issues, conflicts, responsibilities, and ambitions. Remind yourself that your purpose in prayer is to hear the voice of God, not the voice of the world. The voice of the world, spoken by the “prince of the air,” seeks to lead people into disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). As you silence the world’s distractions, you will gradually enter a state of obedience and stillness, enabling you to hear God’s voice.
Consecration involves detaching from every earthly desire and seeking the knowledge of God while filling yourself with His Word. Ephesians 4:17-18 warns believers not to live like the Gentiles, who walk in the futility of their minds. Their understanding is darkened due to ignorance and hardened hearts, leading to corruption and deceitful lusts. These desires—defined as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16)—prevent true communion with God. Such individuals often pray amiss, driven by selfish desires rather than seeking God’s will (James 4:3).
To hear and receive from God, Paul urges believers to “put on the new man,” created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Transformation through the renewal of the mind is also essential for spiritual discernment (Romans 12:1-2). Consecration, therefore, helps us cultivate a mindset that is receptive to God’s voice. It frees us from the chaos of worldly desires, sanctifies our hearts, and brings stillness to our minds, enabling true intimacy with the Lord.
Aligning with God’s Will
Alignment in stillness means becoming accustomed to and walking according to the will of God. God speaks to us primarily to communicate His will. Often, when God speaks, His message may not make sense in the context of our current situations; however, it aligns perfectly with His plans and purposes for our lives. Unless we align ourselves with God’s purposes, His voice may sound unfamiliar or strange. It is essential to position ourselves in a state of readiness to do the will of God. As Psalm 40:7-8 declares, “It is written about me in the scroll; I desire to do your will, my God.”
Like the Psalmist, we must declare our availability to God, expressing that we are willing to follow His will rather than our own. This selfless act is what rightly positions us to understand and align with God’s will. Such positioning allows us to grasp not only the will of God but also the destiny He has preordained for us. It is important to seek to know God’s will genuinely, rather than focusing solely on asking God to fulfill our desires. Many Christians do not hear God’s voice because they are preoccupied with requests for what they want; they rarely pause to discover what God wants to do in their lives. Remember, God only speaks His will, and it is up to us to align ourselves with it if we wish to hear His voice. The instruction in the still small voice of God always pertains to His will in that moment or season.
Conclusion
Hearing the voice of God is an essential aspect of a believer’s spiritual journey. Whether through thought processes or the still small voice, understanding these ways in which God communicates is vital for spiritual growth and alignment with His will. Below are the key takeaways from the article:
God Speaks Through Thought Processes
- The word of God, which aligns with scripture, can come to us as thoughts.
- Signs in the physical realm can confirm that a thought is from God.
- The inner witness of the Holy Spirit must bear witness, guiding us to discern whether the thought is divine or self-generated.
God Speaks Through the Still Small Voice
- Obedience and a quiet spirit are essential for hearing God’s voice clearly.
- Consecration is necessary—we must rid ourselves of distractions and worldly lusts to enter God’s presence.
- Aligning ourselves with the will of God is crucial; we must be willing to seek His will and submit to it to understand and hear Him.
